Method and system for teleoperations and support services

Abstract

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which an edge computing-based teleoperations service is provided. An edge network device may select an active and one or multiple backup remote-controlling devices in support of a teleoperations service session. The edge network device may include artificial intelligence to learn remote-controlling functions based on communications relayed between a remote-controlled device and the active remote-controlling device. The edge network device may use the learned remote-controlling functions during a failover procedure or other triggering network event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 establishing, by a network device, a teleoperations session with an active remote-controlling device, a backup remote-controlling device, and a remote-controlled device, wherein the active remote-controlling device and the backup remote-controlling device are end devices operable by a user and enables the user to remotely control the remote-controlled device, wherein the backup remote-controlling device operates in a standby mode;   invoking, by the network device, a failover procedure based on a connection state with the active remote-controlling device; and   performing, by the network device during the failover procedure, active remote-controlling functions that include remotely controlling the remote-controlled device based on a learned model of the network device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 requesting, by the network device during the failover procedure, that the backup remote-controlling device remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session; and   receiving, by the network device and from the backup remote-controlling device, an indication that the backup remote-controlling device will remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 ceasing to perform, by the network device in response to the receiving, the active remote-controlling functions.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the network device during the teleoperations session and prior to the performing, communications between the active remote-controlling device and the remote-controlled device;   learning, by the network device, the active remote-controlling functions; and   updating the learned model.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 releasing, by the network device, the active remote-controlling device from remotely controlling the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing, by the network device during the teleoperations session, state information relating to the teleoperations session.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the establishing comprises:
 selecting, by the network device, the active remote-controlling device to remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session; and   selecting, by the network device, the backup remote-controlling device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network device includes a multi-access edge computing (MEC) device of a MEC network. 
     
     
         9 . A network device comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 establish a teleoperations session with an active remote-controlling device, a backup remote-controlling device, and a remote-controlled device, wherein the active remote-controlling device and the backup remote-controlling device are end devices operable by a user and enables the user to remotely control the remote-controlled device, wherein the backup remote-controlling device operates in a standby mode; 
 invoke a failover procedure based on a connection state with the active remote-controlling device; and 
 perform, during the failover procedure, active remote-controlling functions that include remotely controlling the remote-controlled device based on a learned model of the network device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 request, during the failover procedure, that the backup remote-controlling device remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session; and   receive, from the backup remote-controlling device, an indication that the backup remote-controlling device will remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.   
     
     
         11 . The network device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 cease to perform, in response to the receipt of the indication, the active remote-controlling functions.   
     
     
         12 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, during the teleoperations session and prior to the performance of the active remote-controlling functions, communications between the active remote-controlling device and the remote-controlled device;   learn the active remote-controlling functions; and   update the learned model.   
     
     
         13 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 release the active remote-controlling device from remotely controlling the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.   
     
     
         14 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein the the processor is further configured to:
 store, during the teleoperations session, state information relating to the teleoperations session.   
     
     
         15 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein, when establishing, the processor is further configured to:
 select the active remote-controlling device to remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session; and   select the backup remote-controlling device.   
     
     
         16 . The network device of  claim 9 , wherein the network device includes a multi-access edge computing (MEC) device of a MEC network. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a network device, which when executed cause the network device to:
 establish a teleoperations session with an active remote-controlling device, a backup remote-controlling device, and a remote-controlled device, wherein the active remote-controlling device and the backup remote-controlling device are end devices operable by a user and enables the user to remotely control the remote-controlled device, wherein the backup remote-controlling device operates in a standby mode;   invoke a failover procedure based on a connection state with the active remote-controlling device; and   perform, during the failover procedure, active remote-controlling functions that include remotely controlling the remote-controlled device based on a learned model of the network device.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the network device to:
 request, during the failover procedure, that the backup remote-controlling device remotely control the remote-controlled device during with the teleoperations session; and   receive, from the backup remote-controlling device, an indication that the backup remote-controlling device will remotely control the remote-controlled device during the teleoperations session.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the network device to:
 cease to perform, in response to the receipt of the indication, the active remote-controlling functions.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the network device to:
 receive, during the teleoperations session and prior to the performance of the remote-controlling functions, communications between the active remote-controlling device and the remote-controlled device;   learn the active remote-controlling functions; and   update the learned model.